Page 19 of A Heart to Find (Sweetheart Island #2)

The idea of attending a resort-wide blizzard party appealed to Keira as much as a root canal, but she refused to spend her time moping in her room over things she had no control over.

She may be trapped on the island, but she may as well get her money’s worth, especially if she wouldn’t be leaving with the soul mate she had wished—and paid big money—for.

He probably wouldn’t show. He hadn’t tried to call or text or anything, so he must have heard her rejection loud and clear.

But even if he did go to the party, she could avoid him. There were a lot of people to hide behind. She’d avoid balloon arches this time–this conflict was too big to be cute.

Stomach growling, she made her way to the appetizer table and half filled a small plate. Nibbling on a tiny teriyaki ginger meatball, she perused the room looking for a familiar face.

A familiar face other than his, of course.

A sweet couple next to her invited her into their debate on whether crepes were best sweet or savory.

“I think I’ll have to sample both to give an educated opinion.”

“Yes, yes, you definitely should.”

Smiling, Keira served herself two pieces of sliced crepe.

An all too familiar voice leaned over her shoulder and said, “I have a feeling you’ll vote for sweet.”

Hands shaking, Keira fought the urge to toss her plate and run. She really wanted to eat everything to fill her emotional void, and she hadn’t had more than a small package of cookies in her room all day.

Besides, she owed the friendly couple her opinion.

She looked behind her to return to her conversation with them.

The friendly couple had deserted her.

She shoved the sour cream and chive crepe into her mouth and chewed defiantly. She didn’t even want the sweet banana cream one anymore.

That was a lie.

She wanted it.

But she didn’t want him to see her wanting it.

Apparently, being around him had her regressing to her young teen obnoxiousness. How petty could she possibly get?

“Well?”

He raised an eyebrow and looked from her plate to her face.

“Which one wins?”

Licking her finger, she nodded.

“You were right. The sweet definitely takes the award. But I wouldn’t kick the savory off my plate, either. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

She walked away, expecting him to call out to her, to grab her arm, or to beg her to stay so he could explain himself.

He didn’t.

The minutes pulled at her like hours. She yearned for her bed, yet she also yearned for something else. Something she wanted to deny.

Him.

It would be so easy to forgive him. To pretend to get over what felt like deception and trickery. To put it behind her and throw herself into a relationship she had only a day ago convinced herself was meant to be.

She had truly, maddeningly believed her grandmother led her to Jared’s arms, knowing he was the one for her.

“Keira!”

Megan ran toward Keira, arms outstretched for a hug.

“I was afraid you didn’t come down. How are you holding up?”

Keira smiled and shrugged.

“More importantly, how are you holding up? Matt looks nervous. Is he about to pop a certain question?”

“Oh my gosh, do you think so? No, I think he’s just afraid I’ll make him dance.”

Megan leaned closer to whisper.

“I heard a rumor about the fight you had with Jared. Is it true? He has a daughter?”

Keira rolled her eyes and smirked.

“News travels around here as efficiently as it does back home in Healing Springs. Yes, he has a daughter.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I know you said you were opposed to dating a single dad, and for good reason considering all you went through before. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you.”

Keira nodded again. What could she say? She didn’t care so much about the public humiliation or the fact that word spread like lice in a kindergarten classroom. She couldn’t begrudge him the loving life of a child—she’d never dream of wishing a kid away.

“I’m happy for him. I really am. He never thought he would be a family man, and he is.”

“He loves you, Keira. I’m sure of it. Are you sure you can’t fix it? Help him realize he should have told you?”

And that was the problem.

She didn’t want to fix anyone.

Or rather, she did. But she knew she shouldn’t. Couldn’t.

Wouldn’t.

“Excuse me, Megan, I need some air. Catch up with you later?”

“Of course, my friend. Just know that Matt and I will be by your side forever. If we have to choose, we choose you.”

Keira hated the idea of Jared being left out, but he’d probably be relieved.

Squeezing herself through a stream of joyful people, Keira released a pent-up breath when she finally made it to the covered balcony at the far end of the conference hall. The sharp air cut her lungs, but cooled her face and saved her from the embarrassment of passing out in the heat of the crowded party.

She made her way to the edge and brushed snow off the rail so she could lean over and admire the sparkling ground as the fresh snow twinkled under the lantern lights.

In spite of everything, she’d miss this island.

“Guess I’m not the only one who needed solitude.”

She startled at the rumbling of Jared’s voice cutting through the quiet of the night. Her hand flew to her heart.

“I didn’t know you were out here.”

“I figured as much.”

He stepped out of the shadows and into the light. His hair more disheveled than usual, he looked out of place. Uncomfortable.

Uncertain.

“Jared, I’m glad you’re out here.”

“Yeah?”

He perked up and tilted his head, a slight, nervous smile rising on one side of his face.

Argh, that crease!

She nodded.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last year with everything that happened with my family, my fiancé, and all that. Some of it hasn’t been so pleasant.”

Her self-deprecating laugh punctuated her commentary.

“Thing is, I’m a fixer. I never mean to be, but that’s what I am. I look at the lives of those close to me and don’t rest until I find ways to fix whatever is causing them harm. Seems innocuous enough, but it drives people away, and rightfully so. People don’t want to be fixed. I’ve learned that.”

“I’m sure you’ve only ever tried to be helpful. People shouldn’t take advantage of your good nature and not be willing to take your advice or assistance and repair their lives. That’s not a flaw, Keira.”

“But it is. And you see, I’ve been thinking about it ever since our disagreement yesterday. I can’t fix you. I don’t even want to try. You’re great the way you are, and I know with all my heart and soul that you will make someone an amazing partner.”

“The only one I want is you.”

She shook her head, biting the insides of her cheeks to keep from letting her sadness flood the balcony.

“It can’t be me, Jared. And not because there’s anything wrong with you and not even because you kept a secret that I wish you hadn’t. It’s simply because I’m too broken for a relationship, especially one where I feel deceived. Especially one where I stand to lose so much. I smother people. I do too much. And I lose myself in the process. Coming here was a bad idea, and I’m sorry if I hurt you with my reaction to what I honestly believe is wonderful news.”

“I don’t need you to fix me or take care of me, Keira. I can do all that myself. And you don’t need me to fix you or take care of you. You’ve proven that. All I need is for you to love me at least a fraction as much as I love you.”

His voice cracked. He reached for her.

She stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest and hugging her arms to shield herself from the cold and from his heart reaching out to hers.

“Let me love you.”

His plea did something to her. His desperation reached inside her chest and squeezed her heart, leaving her breathless. Her knees locked, and though she wanted to flee, she couldn’t find the strength.

But then he stepped closer, placing his warm hands on her cold arms, and her fight or flight or freeze instincts switched to flight.

“I’m so sorry, Megan. I can’t come down for lunch. I have so much to do right now.”

“I don’t know what you could possibly have to do, but okay. I’ll see you at the board game event later, though, right? Please say yes. I have things to tell you.”

“I wouldn’t miss it. Now you go and enjoy a quiet, romantic lunch with your smitten kitten, and we’ll catch up later.”

Megan chuckled.

“One of these days I’m going to let it slip that you call him that. It’s too adorable.”

“And so are you. Now go. Enjoy all the romance so I can live vicariously through you.”

“Oh, Keira. I so wish things could be different.”

“Enough of the pity party for me, love. No pity here. I’m perfectly fine with things just as they are.”

Thank goodness Megan couldn’t see Keira’s hair sticking to her tear-stained face or the history on Keira’s mobile. She would have known that Keira had, indeed, been wallowing in self-pity. That she had been scrolling through photos of the children she may never see again, reading old messages of love, support, and accolades from the mother and sister she had thought she was so close to. Had tortured herself watching videos of family vacations Keira had sponsored where they all created such beautiful memories.

Videos of the children Keira loved so much acting goofy, loving, sweet.

Her heart ached with the longing to see those kids again, to hold them in her arms and reassure them that she didn’t walk away willingly. That she had wanted to work things out with the family so she could stay in their lives, but that the family had orchestrated things and manipulated things to put a wall between Keira and all of them. A wall that Keira could only penetrate by abolishing her carefully constructed boundaries that had been meant to protect all of their relationships.

Things had gone too far, and there was no way for Keira to fix this mess. She could forgive all the betrayal and disloyalty, but she couldn’t rebuild relationships when she was the only one willing to put in the work.

Though she had always believed that family was worth any sacrifice, she had to accept that some people were best loved from afar. Using the children as weapons to control her was a toxic move, but she had no legal rights to fight for.

And now she had allowed herself to fall back into a situation that had the potential to wound her in the exact same way.

Her heart couldn’t handle another lost child. Sure, being a teacher had prepared her to say goodbye to children she loved at the end of every school year, but this was different.

If she allowed herself to stay with Jared, she would fall head over heels in love with his daughter. And history had proven that no matter how strong a relationship seemed, it could fall apart at any moment.

She’d have no claim on Hailey. No rights. Just like with her ex’s child. Just like with her nephew and niece.

No matter how ferociously she loved Jared, her heart couldn’t take another attack like that.

Megan’s text saying she’d see her soon at the board game event startled Keira. Where had the day gone?

She hurried into the shower, scrubbing her face to rid herself of all evidence of her self-indulgent pity session.

She actually looked forward to laughing and playing with Megan and Matt. She certainly could use the distraction.

And no way would Jared show up for something as benign as board games—especially when she had so dramatically rejected him on the balcony. By now he’d know she was serious about there being no future, and since he had always disliked board games, he’d have a perfect excuse to avoid them. This wasn’t one of the mandatory participation events. She’d be safe. She could be social and breathe.

She welcomed the distraction.

When she arrived at the door of the room where the games were being held, she was stopped by a short woman with bold glasses resting on the edge of her nose.

“Name? I’ll find your seating assignment.”

“Is this the board game event? I’m looking for my friends. I plan to sit with them.”

“Seating is assigned. What’s your name?”

“Seriously? I let my kindergartners make their own choices about where to play.”

The woman shrugged and smiled.

“Founders’ rules.”

Keira muttered an insincere but polite thank you to the woman as she directed her to the correct table. Maybe she’d make some new friends. Maybe she’d meet someone else whose match hadn’t worked out. That would be sad for them, but reassuring for her.

Residing on the Island of Love wasn’t exactly fun when your love had been sliced and diced and left to rot.

She made it too close to the table to turn around and run by the time she noticed Jared sitting across from the only empty seat at the six-person table.

The other couples rushed to introduce themselves as she pulled out her chair. She put on her very best, enthusiastic, social face and told them she looked forward to beating them all at whatever games they played.

And she carefully avoided looking directly at Jared.

She picked up on his vibe, though. Not as casually laid back as usual. A bit more intense. And… sad. Dejected. Maybe hopeful?

Once the games were delivered to the tables and the person running the event finished talking about the benefits of playing with your partner, the competition began.

Surprisingly, she lost herself in laughter and relaxed into fun.

She even managed to smile at Jared as she took one of his pieces.

But things got interesting when they played a game where couples were a team.

She and Jared, though she avoided talking directly to him, were undefeatable.

After winning first prize for their table, the other couples shook their hands and wandered off to the pizza buffet, taking the laughter with them and leaving awkward silence behind.

“Want me to grab you some pizza?”

Jared offered, his normal confident tone replaced with a quieter demeanor.

“I’ll get some in a minute. First, I have something I want to say to you now that I have you alone.”

He leaned forward on the table, listening intently.

“I was wrong to be angry with you, Jared. It was so childish and immature. You created a family. That’s such a beautiful thing, and something I always wanted for you. To be angry and hurt because it wasn’t with me when we hadn’t even seen each other since I was eighteen was silly. We both lived lives apart from one another, and my only excuse is that my emotional brain got lost in the past. Rather than focusing on the man you had become over the years, I was caught up in feeling sad that you didn’t want what you now have back when you were mine.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Keira. I was wrong to keep the information from you. I went into this not wanting to use my daughter as a bargaining chip, but as soon as I knew I was matched with you I should have told you. I was a coward. You deserved to hear it from me much sooner. My only excuse is that I knew it would hurt you, and I wanted our relationship to grow before I tested it too strongly. Obviously, that was the wrong way to handle things.”

“You honestly have nothing to be sorry for. I know it could never work between us, but I’m glad we’ve cleared the air. Maybe we could be friends?”

She looked away so she could pretend she didn’t see the disappointment clouding his beautiful eyes.

Clearing her throat, she sat up straighter in her chair.

“Tell me all about Hailey. I want to know everything. Don’t leave a single detail out.”

His face brightened at her invitation. He moved into the seat next to her so he could scroll through countless photos of the adorable girl on his phone.

“She is stunningly beautiful, Jared. Oh my goodness, look at those bright blue eyes!”

The pride on his face said everything she needed to know.

Sure, maybe he had once thought he wasn’t cut out to be a family man, but the vibrant child in the photos was living proof that he had adapted to the role.

“Every night when I put her to bed, whether I’m with her at home or over a video call when I’m traveling without her, we have to act out an elaborate scene with her purple teddy bear. I keep a laminated photo of Mr. Purple Bear in my wallet for the calls.”

“Imagination and routine are so important for kids. Awesome. But really, Mr. Purple Bear? You couldn’t come up with a better name?”

“That’s what she said, too. Hey, give me a break. Creativity isn’t exactly what I’m known for.”

His grin spread across his face, and he flipped through to a photo of Hailey covered in flour.

“She loves to bake with grownups, but she’s excessively messy. Worse than you, even,”

he teased.

“Hey!”

Keira feigned offense, but asked him to tell her more.

“She doesn’t like tags on her shirt or seams on her socks. We, I, have to buy special brands to avoid meltdowns. She loves all vegetables but is fussy about fruits, though she’ll drink fruits if I blend them into a smoothie. She eats all the cheese off her pizza before eating the rest, which always results in sauce smeared all over her cheeks. She has a mud kitchen we built together out of pallets in the backyard, and her giggle when I pretend to eat her mud soup makes everything in the world seem better.”

Keira smiled as Jared shared stories of his daughter. Intimate details only an involved dad would know.

The kind of father she’d want for her own children.

Her heart bled, but she wanted to know more. The little girl with the brilliant smile and long golden curls called out to her from the small screen.

As if being in love with the child’s father wasn’t bad enough, now Keira had to resist falling for this little girl she hadn’t even met.

Maybe, if they could establish a friendship and maintain it off the island, Keira could become an auntie figure to little Hailey.

Maybe.

As Jared scrolled through photos of Hailey at the zoo last fall, a video call request popped up on his screen.

“Speaking of the cutie, she’s calling to say goodnight. Will you say hi to her with me?”

A bomb of fluttery fireworks went off in Keira’s belly, and panic threatened to consume her.

His finger hovered over the “accept call” button.

Keira nodded and did her best confident, mature adult impression.

Surely she couldn’t be afraid of a three-year-old.

“Hey, little puffer fish!”

His voice lifted an octave as he greeted the giggly creature on the small screen.

Keira’s heart swelled at the joyful smile on the child’s face. Keira stayed out of the way so the video wouldn’t capture her, but couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.

“Daddy, Auntie Meredith got me a new cupcake baking set for the real oven!”

“No way. The real oven? Auntie Meredith must really love you or something.”

“We’re making cupcakes tomorrow. When will you be home? I’ll save you one. Or two or four if you want them.”

She held up her fingers, using her other hand to hold down her thumb.

“Mmm, definitely four, please. With extra frosting.”

Hailey shouted over her shoulder to her aunt to ask about the amount of frosting they had.

Keira leaned against the table and watched Jared’s face light up brighter than a city skyline at night as he conversed with his daughter, who was all over the place with her stories. Apparently, she had a very busy day with Auntie Meredith and had lots of things to share with her daddy.

“Hailey, I have someone for you to meet. Want to meet her now?”

Keira’s abdomen tightened, and her mouth went dry.

Kids were her forte. Her reason for being. She could handle this.

“Where is she, Daddy?”

Keira took her cue and leaned toward Jared as he turned the phone to capture Keira next to him.

“Hailey, this is Keira. She’s the lovely lady I was matched with this week.”

“Yay! Just like Mommy said! Mommy is always right.”

“That’s right, lovebug. Mommy wanted me to find a match here.”

“She said it would be Keira. And she was right!”

The little girl bounced in her seat and clasped her hands over her mouth.

“What do you mean?”

Jared asked, his hand shaking the phone slightly as he turned it so Keira could only see from the side view again.

Hailey looked over her shoulder and mumbled something to Meredith, who nodded her head and said it was okay now.

“Mommy said Keira would be there, and you were ‘sposed to be with her. That’s why Mommy made you go. I had to keep it a secret until you found out, and then it would be a surprise.”

Jared cleared his throat before speaking again.

“Your mommy knew Keira would be here? Meredith? Something you want to tell me?”

Meredith leaned over and smiled broadly into the camera.

“She was so proud of herself, Jared. She tracked Keira down—sorry, Keira if you can hear me—and found out after snooping around the town where Keira lives that Keira planned to go to the matchmaking resort. Elizabeth was certain if you guys were there at the same time, you’d end up matched together. That’s why she insisted on you promising to go during that session no matter what. I thought she was crazy and that the odds were ridiculous, but she had her mind set on it. And, as usual, my sweet sister was correct.”

Tears jumbled her speech, and she sniffled loudly before wiping her tears on the bottom of her sleeve.

“I’m so happy, Jared. And I know Elizabeth is looking down and smiling like a crazy woman because her plan to reunite you with your one true love worked. Keira, I don’t know you yet, but I can’t wait to hug you and welcome you to the family!”

Keira tried to smile, but until Jared turned the phone back toward her, she didn’t know if her lips would cooperate.

Luckily, they did.

She couldn’t lie to these people—these kind, welcoming, loving-to-a-total-stranger people.

So she just smiled.

“Keira, do you like dolls? I have a dollhouse and you can play with it. We can play outside with my kitchen and we can color with sidewalk chalk and we can have a sleepova in my fort and?—”

“That all sounds brilliant, my little puffer fish. But the clock just struck seven thirty, and you know what that means…”

“Mr. Purple Bear needs to go to BED!”

Collapsing into a fit of giggles, Hailey danced the real Mr. Purple Bear on the table in front of her while Jared danced his laminated version.

Keira bit back her tangled emotions as she watched Jared being the best father she always knew he could be.

By the time they finished singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star together, Keira had dissolved into a pile of mush.

There was no way she could be friends with him. And there was no way she could not fall head over heels in love with the exuberant little girl who was helping her bear perform “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”

In too deep. Way too deep.

But she had to be smart for a change. She couldn’t fall into old patterns of letting her emotions rule her.

“Bye-bye, Keira! See you soon!”

Keira blew kisses back to Hailey and smiled a genuine smile as she wished the little girl and Mr. Purple Bear sweet dreams.

Jared said his final goodbyes and disconnected from the call, turning to face Keira with apology written all over his confused face.

“I had no idea.”

“You sounded surprised,”

she conceded.

“She was adamant that I commit to going this particular session. She signed me up and told me it was non-refundable and I had to promise her—as she was rapidly approaching death, mind you—that I wouldn’t back out.”

Keira watched him process this bizarre turn of events through a haze of confusion.

He wouldn’t look at her.

After a moment of silence, she worked up the nerve to ask the question that ate at her insides. She had to know.

“So it wasn’t your idea to come here?”

He shook his head, still not looking at her.

She inhaled deeply, cursing herself for being so stupid.

When he still didn’t look up, she pushed her chair away from the table and stood, eager to get back to her room where she would stay until she could leave this island and never look back.

His hand shot out and interrupted her departure, grabbing her elbow. He looked up at her through heavy, sorrowful lids and lashes, imploring her to stay without saying a word.

She gulped and shoved the hurt aside. He needed her right now, and though it killed her to know this whole thing had been a farce, she would give him the empathy he needed.

His shoulders relaxed when she sat next to him.

“It’s so weird. I want to call her to admonish her for interfering. That’s Elizabeth, though. Always knowing what I needed before I even did.”

Keira struggled to find words, but what could she say? She had too many questions, none of which seemed appropriate when all she wanted to say was she had been a fool to believe her grandmother actually led them here together.

She had been a fool to believe this could have been meant to be.

It had been a game all along. An elaborate prank. Except rather than it being set up by Jared as she suspected back on day one of this debacle, it had been his dead wife.

Please don’t start nervous giggling now.

“I’m sorry, Keira. I imagined this part of the evening going much differently.”

When she didn’t reply, he finally looked her way.

“Are you okay? I’m an idiot. I didn’t even consider how this revelation would make you feel.”

She shrugged.

But she had to be honest. No more holding back her thoughts and feelings. She had worth, and she was a human being, and she deserved to have her thoughts and feelings validated just like anyone else.

She had worked hard to get to the point of believing that, and she couldn’t squander her growth now.

“I don’t think I’m okay, Jared.”

She paused to breathe deeply again, willing away the emotional breakdown she was sure she had earned by now.

“I actually think it’s sort of sweet your wife wanted you to find someone else. I’m just confused about why she thought it would be funny to torture us like this. Were you on bad terms with her or something? Because you made it seem like you were best friends. I just don’t get it.”

He turned to face her fully.

“Keira, no.”

He shoved a hand through his hair and groaned.

“I’ve made a huge mess of this.”

She couldn’t disagree, but she held onto the edge of her sanity in hopes that something he said would make sense.

“Elizabeth always knew you were the one who got away.

She knew how I felt about you, and after we realized our marriage was a crazy sham built by two lonely people who didn’t love each other that way, she tried to convince me to go to you.

To find you and do whatever it took to get you back.

But then she got sick, and there was no way I’d leave her when we knew she didn’t have long to live.

I had no idea she found you.

I had no idea you’d be here.

But I did know I would put my all into this experience, because I wanted to find what you and I once had.

I could never have dreamed I’d actually find you again, but my goal was one hundred percent to come here and be matched with someone who would make my heart swell the way you did.

Who would make me want to be a better man.

Who would guarantee I’d smile every day for the rest of my life, and who would make me excited to welcome every new day.”

He reached over and clutched her hand like a lifeline.

“Never in my most wild fantasy could I have imagined I’d actually find you. The embodiment of all my hopes and dreams.”

“Now you’re being corny.”

But she used her free hand to swipe away the tear that leaked out the corner of her eye.

“You make me that way, what can I say?”

“Jared, I can’t?—”

“Shh. Don’t say anything right now. We’re in a strange place in our relationship. You’ve been very upset with me—rightfully so—and you have a lot of information to process. Let’s not make any decisions right this minute.”

Where was the impulsive, rash boy she had known? Ready to jump into the fire at any moment with no gear, no plan?

“Tomorrow night is the farewell cocktail party. Take tonight and tomorrow to think about it, meditate on it, consult with your friends about it, whatever it takes. And after all that, if you see yourself in the picture with me, you can tell me tomorrow over a celebratory cocktail.”

Jared studied her face, his gaze flickering over every inch before settling back at her eyes.

“And if I’m not what you need or want, I will accept it. Brokenheartedly, but I won’t pressure you. Deal?”

She nodded slowly, wanting to jump in his arms and beg him to turn her world upside down.

But he was right. There was a lot to figure out. To plan. To determine whether she had truly put the past—his and hers and all they had done since their previously happy days—behind her.

Could they build a future on such slippery ground?

Was love enough to survive the cold winters of today and tomorrow?

As she took the stairs back to her room, she heard her grandmother’s solemn voice loud and clear.

The weight of loss is only heavy when you’ve had the privilege of having loved, sweet child. Never waste that love. Never turn away from the inevitable grief you’ll feel one day. Because no matter how painful it is to come to the end of the road, the pain means you have had the love that everyone dreams of. A love like the love you so admire between your grandpa and me.

The truth hit her like a meteor shooting from the sky and landing in her heart.

Getting attached to another child and thinking she’d be able to shower that child with love forever was risky.

She could lose the right to be in the child’s life. She could get hurt. She could unwittingly hurt the child.

But closing herself off to the possibility of loving the man and the child was a greater gamble than she could take.

Yes, she wanted him. The full package. The traveler. The father. The brother-in-law. The risk-taker. The compassionate, kind caretaker. The man who honored a dying woman’s wishes even after she was gone. The man who ran across the globe to find the mother who had abandoned him so he could reconnect with her before she left the Earth. The man who danced a laminated photo of a bear on a table to make his little girl laugh.

The man who had shown love, tolerance, and respect to her every moment of the last two weeks, no matter how unbearable she had been.

Closing her hotel room behind her, she leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, a thrill running through her as her decision cemented itself in her brain.

Tomorrow she would tell him. She didn’t want to wait, but they had made a plan and she would stick to it.

Tonight she would dream of the beautiful life they would make together.

She had no idea where the decision would lead her. Where they’d live, how they’d handle her job and his travel.

But she knew she wanted this. More than anything.

Yes, tonight she’d be dreaming. But this time her eyes would be wide open.